Mercedes-Benz S-class Coupe arrives

With the technology of the S-Class sedan packaged into a shorter, lower and wider coupe silhouette, the S-Class Coupe takes Mercedes-Benz' usual luxury to another level.

Formerly known as the CL-class, the brand claims that its new coupe has less wind noise than any model on sale, thanks to clever design details that include a non-opening sunroof that fits flush with the car's body, and double-glazed windows that look thick enough to stop bullets.

The car is available with 94 Swarovski crystals in the headlights that add a touch of bling to an already glamorous package, part of a $5900 Night View option that includes subtly illuminated logos inside the headlights.

Other options include an $8500 electric tinting system for the sunroof and carbon ceramic brakes that are surely overkill for Australian drivers that aren't storming down autobahns at 300km/h.

The range starts with the $319,000 S500 that serves as the most affordable S-Class coupe with standard features including Magic Body Control, a suspension system that watches for bumps in the road before accounting for them with timely adjustments, and a curve tilting function that subtly leans the car into corners like a motorcycle. The car has a fair degree of self-driving technology on board, including stop-start cruise control and an assistance package capable of safely steering a car through a corner should a driver lose focus.

Leather trim, a panoramic sunroof and 20-inch alloys are present and correct, as is an LED intelligent lighting system that can see around corners, automatically disengaging to prevent other road uses from becoming dazzled.

With a twin-turbocharged 4.7-litre V8 under the bonnet, the S500 pumps 335kW and 700Nm to the rear wheels with the help of a new nine-speed automatic transmission.

The $409,000 S63 AMG Coupe kicks things up a gear with a 430kW, 900Nm twin-turbocharged 5.5-litre V8 and a sports suspension tune that make it a driver's pick. Rich Nappa leather joins a sporty interior with well-bolstered seats and suede-like material on the steering wheel. On the outside, an aggressive bodykit and sharp-looking AMG alloy wheels join quad exhausts that play a rich tune.

For $499,000, the S65 AMG Coupe brings a colossal 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 with 463kW and 1000Nm, along with extras such as mirror-finished exterior trim, polished 20-spoke wheels, a 24-speaker Burmester sound system and a further upgrade in the nappa leather interior.

The S65 AMG is capable of accelerating to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds, narrowly edging out the S63 AMG's 4.2 second time and the 4.6 seconds required by the S500. The S63 AMG Coupe is on sale now, while the S500 and S65 AMG will arrive mid-year.